Chalcid Wasp

chalcid wasp in my house
May 24, 2010
Hi, just discovered that this is a chalcid wasp and that they are beneficials, but don’t know how or why they are in the house and would like to see if anyone knows what type of chalcid this is, bc I guess that term is pretty broad. Would these guys get in the house from a parasitized house fly?
Thanks!
Tiffany
Wilmington, NC

Chalcid Wasp

Hi Tiffany,
WE do not have the necessary skills to identify this Chalcid Wasp to the species level. Most Chalcids parasitize insects in the orders Lepidoptera and Diptera, but some parasitize beetles. According to BugGuide: “All chalcidids are parasitic. Most attack pupae of Lepidoptera and Diptera, but some parasitize other Hymenoptera or beetles. Parasites of Lepidoptera usually attack young pupae, while those of Diptera attack mature larvae.” We frequently receive letters regarding flies suddenly appearing in the home, and often a failure to remove garbage in a timely manner will cause maggots to proliferate. An incident like that could give rise to the Chalcid sighting.